Chapter 04 : The First Date, The First Promise

The old grandfather clock in the Jeon household chimed twice—each dull strike echoing like a countdown Jungkook couldn’t understand.

He sat silently on the floor beside the low table, his notebook open but untouched. His pen tapped against the paper rhythmically, heart beating even faster with every breath he took. The letter was gone. The message had been sent. He expected quiet after that.

But it never came.

Because instead… came him.

A knock echoed at the front door, and within seconds, the entire household stilled.

The maid opened it hesitantly, only to stumble back as the tall figure stepped in. Neatly dressed in a soft beige turtleneck and tailored coat, his presence turned heads immediately.

Taehyung.

He stood calmly, holding a small bouquet of white daisies in one hand and a subtle smile in the other.

“I’m here to see Jungkook,” he said, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

The stepmother’s expression twisted.

“I think there’s been some misunderstanding,” she said with a brittle laugh, stepping forward. “You were supposed to be engaged to my daughter, not... him.”

Taehyung turned to her with a calm but pointed gaze. “No misunderstanding at all. I know exactly who I came here for.”

Jungkook, still frozen in the hallway, gripped the edge of the wall.

His stepsister let out a dramatic sigh. “Why are you still insisting on this? Do you know how ridiculous this looks? He’s mute. He’s socially awkward. He can’t even speak to defend himself.”

“He doesn’t need to,” Taehyung said smoothly, his voice steady. “Because I listen.”

He turned then, eyes falling on Jungkook.

And Jungkook—small, confused, unsure—looked back at him with a heart full of questions.

“Jungkook,” Taehyung said gently, “come with me.”

There was a pause.

The entire house waited.

And slowly, almost mechanically, Jungkook stepped forward. No words. Just quiet breath and cautious eyes.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the stepmother hissed.

“To get to know my fiancé,” Taehyung replied before Jungkook could flinch. “If you’ll excuse us.”

He held out his hand, and Jungkook stared at it like it was magic.

Then placed his own into it.

The drive was silent, but not unkind. Jungkook sat in the passenger seat, fingers curled into his sleeves, eyes shifting between the window and Taehyung’s profile.

He still didn’t understand.

Why was he here?

What did Taehyung want from someone like him?

After a few minutes, Taehyung pulled into a small lakeside café. The sun was setting, casting gold across the water. It was quiet. Peaceful. Empty except for the soft hum of music from the speakers inside.

“I come here when I need to breathe,” Taehyung said as he helped Jungkook out of the car. “Thought you might like it too.”

Jungkook nodded softly, following him to a cozy table on the balcony.

They sat.

And then, slowly, Taehyung began to speak.

“Jungkook… I read your letter. And I understand why you wrote it,” he said gently. “But I didn’t come into your life because I was looking for someone perfect.”

He met Jungkook’s eyes.

“I came because I saw someone strong. Someone brave enough to keep going even when the world stayed quiet around him.”

Jungkook swallowed hard. His hands clenched beneath the table.

“You think your silence is a burden,” Taehyung whispered. “But it’s the loudest truth I’ve ever heard. You’ve been hurt. Ignored. Used. I saw it in your eyes, the way you didn’t expect to be chosen. The way you flinched at kindness like it wasn’t meant for you.”

Jungkook blinked, his lashes fluttering with the threat of tears.

“I won’t promise I’m perfect,” Taehyung continued. “But I do promise this.”

He reached into his coat and pulled out a small box.

Jungkook’s breath hitched.

Taehyung opened it, revealing the same silver ring with a heartbeat engraved on the inner side.

“I want to try. I want to be the kind of husband who makes you feel safe. Who waits for your smiles. Who listens when you speak, even if it’s just with your eyes.”

He slid the box closer.

“You asked me to forget you,” Taehyung said softly. “But how can I forget someone who made me feel more in silence than anyone else did with a thousand words?”

Jungkook covered his mouth, his shoulders trembling. Not with fear.

But with something else.

Something new.

Something like… hope.

Taehyung reached across the table, gently resting his hand on Jungkook’s.

“You don’t have to say yes tonight,” he whispered. “But just trust me once.”

Jungkook looked down at the ring. Then at the hand holding his.

And in the soft golden glow of the setting sun, he nodded—

Just once.

But it was enough.

Because in that one silent answer, Taehyung heard everything he needed.

The beginning of love didn’t need to be loud.

It just needed to be true.

The lakeside café now glowed in twilight.

After the heartfelt proposal, Taehyung and Jungkook stayed for a little while longer. They didn’t talk much—but they didn’t need to. There was a warmth that settled between them, a silence that spoke of comfort rather than distance.

Taehyung ordered dessert—strawberry shortcake, soft and light—and Jungkook allowed himself a small bite. For the first time, he didn’t feel like a guest in someone else’s story. Taehyung didn’t rush him or fill the air with needless words. He just sat there, sipping his tea, occasionally glancing over with that soft, fond smile.

At one point, Jungkook took the pen from his pocket and scribbled something on a napkin before sliding it across the table.

“Why me?” it read, in his careful, curved handwriting.

Taehyung looked at the question for a long moment, then replied without hesitation.

“Because when you looked at me… I didn’t feel like I had to pretend.”

Jungkook’s heart stuttered.

And he looked away quickly, cheeks pink and warm.

__________________________________________________

Later, as Taehyung pulled up in front of the Jeon residence, he turned off the engine but didn’t move.

Jungkook’s fingers played nervously with the edge of his coat.

“I’ll see you again soon, yeah?” Taehyung said, leaning slightly closer. “But if anything happens in there that hurts you… walk away. You don’t belong to pain anymore.”

Jungkook looked at him then, eyes wide.

And Taehyung smiled gently, brushing his fingers over Jungkook’s hand.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Jungkook stepped out, feeling lighter… until the door opened.

And his stepmother was waiting.

Alongside her—his stepsister, arms folded, brows drawn.

“There you are,” the woman snapped. “Where have you been—”

She paused mid-sentence. Her eyes dropped.

To his hand.

The silver ring.

Everything changed in a breath.

His stepsister’s eyes filled with disbelief as she stepped forward, mouth trembling. “You… you said you weren’t going to marry him.”

Jungkook looked down, unable to respond.

“You lied to me,” she whispered, voice breaking. “You knew I liked him… you knew!”

Then she turned and ran—slamming her door shut with a sob.

The stepmother’s face twisted with disgust. “Look what you’ve done. You’ve ruined this family. You couldn’t just stay silent and invisible like always, could you?”

Jungkook stood frozen, heart thudding painfully in his chest.

“Go!” she yelled. “Marry him! Get out of this house! Just know—you were never one of us.”

Her words were venom, but Jungkook didn’t cry.

He’d spent all his tears already.

A quiet cough interrupted them.

His father stood at the end of the hallway, his expression tired… but different this time. Regretful.

“Jungkook,” he called softly.

Jungkook turned.

For the first time in years, the man stepped closer. Not to scold. Not to shame. But to speak.

“Go with him,” he said quietly, eyes flickering to the ring. “Marry him. And don’t look back.”

Jungkook blinked.

“You deserve more than this house,” his father whispered. “I never had the courage to protect you… but he does. And I think… he will.”

Jungkook’s lips trembled. His eyes burned—but not from pain.

He bowed slightly.

And walked away.

__________________________________________________

[Meanwhile, back at the Kim estate…]

Taehyung stood in the kitchen, peeling fruit lazily while chatting with Jimin, who was sprawled on the couch, sipping on juice and grinning ear to ear.

“So?” Jimin teased. “How was it? Did he throw his arms around you? Confess eternal love?”

Taehyung laughed. “He didn’t say a word.”

“Seriously?” Jimin blinked. “Not even on paper?”

“Oh, he did write something,” Taehyung replied, smile softening. “He asked why I chose him.”

“And what did you say?”

“That I don’t feel like I have to pretend around him,” Taehyung said honestly. “It’s… peaceful, being with him.”

Just then, his parents stepped in—Namjoon and Seokjin, both looking mildly curious.

“Did you two have a good time?” Seokjin asked.

Taehyung nodded. “Yeah. We talked. I proposed.”

Both parents paused.

Namjoon blinked. “You… already proposed?”

“Well, yeah,” Taehyung said, as if it were obvious. “He’s the one, Appa. And I’m not going to let him stay in that house a moment longer than he has to.”

Seokjin exchanged a glance with Namjoon, then stepped closer to cup his son’s cheek.

“Then bring him home,” he said warmly. “This house is his now too.”

Taehyung smiled.

His heart full.

Because now, it wasn’t just a decision.

It was a beginning.

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